2026 Visit Knoxville Open Preview
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season heats up in late May with a special two-week stretch for McConnell Golf: back-to-back events hosted at two of its premier properties. First up is the Visit Knoxville Open, held May 18-24 at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.
A New Era Begins
Set against the rolling terrain and classic architecture of one of the South’s most respected Donald Ross designs, the Visit Knoxville Open has become a favorite stop on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule. Since moving to Holston Hills, the tournament has delivered a compelling mix of low scoring, strategic shot-making and dramatic finishes — often serving as a springboard for players on the rise.
This year’s championship also marks the beginning of a new era for one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s longest-running events. The Tennessee Golf Foundation has assumed operational leadership alongside Visit Knoxville, Holston Hills Country Club and PGA TOUR professionals Scott Stallings and Peter Malnati, helping position the tournament for continued growth while preserving its deep ties to the Knoxville community.
With a strengthened course, a growing list of returning contenders and a field expected to feature both rising stars and familiar names, Knoxville once again sets the stage for a week of meaningful competition.
And as always, it’s more than just a tournament week—it’s a celebration of community, history and the enduring appeal of championship golf in one of the game’s most authentic settings.
Pontus Nyholm of Sweden poses with the trophy following his breakthrough Korn Ferry Tour victory.
Tournament History
The Visit Knoxville Open remains one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s cornerstone events and one of only four remaining original tournaments dating back to the Tour’s founding in 1990. Over more than three decades, the championship has served as a launching pad for future PGA TOUR stars while becoming deeply woven into the fabric of East Tennessee golf.
Since moving to Holston Hills Country Club in 2021, the event has found an ideal home. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s most authentic and well-preserved Donald Ross designs, the 1927 classic sits just outside Knoxville near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and has drawn rave reviews from players for its flowing routing, strategic angles and challenging green complexes.
Holston Hills also carries significant tournament pedigree. The course hosted PGA TOUR events during the 1940s, including a stop during Byron Nelson’s legendary 1945 season, and today continues to identify elite emerging talent on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Recent champions at Holston Hills include:
2021 — Greyson Sigg
2022 — Anders Albertson
2023 — Rico Hoey
2024 — Harry Higgs
2025 — Pontus Nyholm
2025 Tournament Recap
The 2025 Visit Knoxville Open once again showcased why Holston Hills Country Club has quickly become one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s favorite stops.
Sweden’s Pontus Nyholm captured his first Korn Ferry Tour title in memorable fashion, rallying from five shots back entering Sunday before closing with a 5-under 66 and defeating Korn Ferry Player of the Year Johnny Keefer with an eagle on the first playoff hole.
The winning moment fittingly came at Holston Hills’ iconic par-5 18th, where risk and reward collided in front of packed galleries. Nyholm’s victory helped secure his 2026 PGA TOUR card for the former Campbell University standout who currently stands 117th in the FedEx Cup.
One of the tournament’s most electric moments came Saturday, when sponsor exemption Dylan Menante — a former UNC standout and 2026 Korn Ferry winner at Tulum Championship — fired a course-record 60 that included 12 birdies. Menante’s spectacular round vaulted him into contention and helped him eventually finish tied for third.
Menante fields questions following his record setting round at the 2025 Visit Knoxville Open
The Visit Knoxville Open also highlighted the deep local connections that continue to make the tournament special.
Knoxville native and Holston Hills member Ryan Hall rewarded tournament organizers for their sponsor exemption with his best professional finish to date, tying for sixth at 15-under-par. University of Tennessee alum and Holston Hills member Bryce Lewis also impressed, finishing tied for 17th after entering the field as the last player in.
Bryce Lewis alongside his caddie during the 2025 Visit Knoxville Open at Holston Hills Country Club
Players to Watch/Field Highlights
The 2026 Visit Knoxville Open will once again feature a strong blend of rising Korn Ferry Tour talent, local standouts and familiar PGA TOUR veterans.
Several Holston Hills members earned spots in this year’s field, adding even more hometown interest to tournament week. Among those are Bryce Lewis, Jake Hall and Hunter Wolcott — all players with strong ties to the club and the Knoxville golf community.
The field also includes several recognizable names with PGA TOUR pedigree.
Robert Garrigus, winner of the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic, brings veteran experience and one of the game’s more recognizable swings to Holston Hills. Jim Herman, meanwhile, remains a fan favorite after his memorable late-career PGA TOUR success, including victories at the 2019 Barbasol Championship and the 2020 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club.
As always, the Visit Knoxville Open is expected to feature many of the Korn Ferry Tour’s emerging stars as players continue battling for position in the season-long points race and coveted PGA TOUR cards.
Storylines to Watch
A new era in Knoxville: One of the Korn Ferry Tour’s four remaining founding tournaments enters a new chapter in 2026 with the Tennessee Golf Foundation joining forces with Visit Knoxville, Holston Hills Country Club and PGA TOUR professionals Scott Stallings and Peter Malnati to help guide the championship’s future.
Classic Donald Ross test: Holston Hills remains one of the few Donald Ross designs on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule. Its natural routing, strategic bunkering and challenging green complexes provide a refreshing contrast to many modern Tour venues.
Momentum in the points race: With the season entering a critical stretch, Knoxville presents an important opportunity for players to climb the Korn Ferry Tour standings and strengthen their PGA TOUR aspirations.
Local connections: The Visit Knoxville Open consistently highlights players with ties to the Knoxville area, Holston Hills and the University of Tennessee, giving local fans plenty of familiar names to follow throughout the week.
Course evolution: This marks another year since Holston Hills completed its extensive bunker renovation project, which carefully modernized the course while honoring Donald Ross’s original vision. The restored bunkers continue to add strategic nuance and visual framing throughout the property.
A proving ground for future stars: Year after year, the Visit Knoxville Open continues identifying players who soon make an impact on the PGA TOUR, reinforcing the event’s reputation as one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s most meaningful stops.
Course Spotlight: Holston Hills Country Club
Established in 1927, Holston Hills Country Club stands as one of the South’s premier classic golf venues and among the finest surviving examples of Donald Ross architecture.
The course flows naturally across rolling terrain along the Holston River and remains celebrated for its understated elegance, strategic angles and exceptional green complexes. Players routinely praise the course for rewarding creativity and precision rather than simply power.
Recent restoration and bunker renovation work has further enhanced the club’s historic character while ensuring the course remains an ideal championship test for modern professional golf.
Holston Hills also carries significant competitive history. Byron Nelson won at the club during his legendary 1945 season, and today the course continues serving as a stage for the next generation of PGA TOUR talent.
Community Impact
The Visit Knoxville Open does more than showcase rising stars of professional golf — it also makes a lasting impact throughout East Tennessee.
Each year, tournament proceeds support local charitable organizations focused on youth development, education, wellness and other vital community initiatives. Beyond direct financial contributions, the championship helps raise awareness for local causes, engages volunteers from across the region and provides community organizations with a platform to connect with fans, sponsors and supporters.
The event also delivers significant economic impact for Knoxville and Knox County while highlighting the area’s hospitality, culture and rich golf tradition to a national audience.
The continued success of the Visit Knoxville Open reflects the collaboration between Visit Knoxville, the Tennessee Golf Foundation, Holston Hills Country Club, local volunteers and community partners who help ensure the excitement of professional golf leaves a meaningful legacy in East Tennessee.
